Veneer stacker



April 15, 1930.

E. G. STACK VENEER STACKER Filed March 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l www E.G. STACK vENEER sTAcKER April l5, 1930.

Filed March 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April l5, 1930. E. G. sTAcK VENEEHSTACKER Filed March 6, 1928 5 Sheet-vs-Sheet 3 5 sheets-sheet 4 E. G.srAcK VENEER STACKER Filed Maron 6,1928

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Aprvil 15, 1930.

E. G'. STACK VENEER STACKER April l5, 1930.

Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT OFFICE EMMET G. STACK, F MARSHFIELD,OREGON VENEER STACKER Application iled March 6,

My invention relates to a stacker particularly adapted to handle suchveneers as are cut on my horizontal rotary slicer for which patents arepending, namely veneers for bat tery separators, box tops, and the like.In

19 stock table on an intermediate floor.

l my drawings I have shown ten such hoppers.

Any desired number of stickers are automatically placed and apre-determined number of veneers from each of the several hoppers areejected therefrom onto the stickers which are 29 then lowered to theirplace in the kiln load fil) being builton the jack frame placed on thelower floor or kiln level. It can be seen that, instead of receiving theveneers from slicers above, they may be elevated from clippers on alower floor.

The object of my invention is to get away from the expensive handstacking now used in many plants because of the poor work done by anymechanical stackers so far developed.

Another object is to build a kiln load similar in structure to thehandbuilt load, namely: a load in which the number of stickers desiredfor any particular length of veneer can be placed for each horizontalcourse where they are wanted; a load in which all the stickers in avertical column are directly over one another; a load in which theoutside stickers are placed over the ends oiE the veneers; a load inwhich each packet of veneers contains the same number; `a lo-aol inwhich the ends and sides of each packet are approximately even and inwhich the packets in any vertical column are directly over one another.

Another object is to avoid the tall-downs 1928, Serial No. 259,512.

Another object is to further eliminate labor now required in othermechanical stackers to handle the same amount of material.

Another object is the perfection of a stacker that occupies only a smallfraction of the space required for the working of any of the presentstackers or for suiiicient space to stack the same amount by hand.

Another object is the perfection of a stacker that is very simple, ofrugged, cheap con struction, easy to adj ust, operate and control,positive in action, ehcient and durable in service, practicallyautomatic when once started the human element only enters in keeping thehoppers filled and removing the loads as they are completeda Anotherobject lies in the perfection of a machine the capacity of which is onlylimited by the means employed to take the finished loads away themultiple hoppers and their arrangement permit of them being iilled bymore than one person and from one or both sides.

l accomplish the above objects in the machine illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1, is a plan view; Fig. 2, is aside View; Fig. 3, is an end view with the means for mov ing the bottomof the chain skids backwardly removed; Fig. 4, is a View showing theresilient roll usedas the veneer packet ejecting means together with itsindexing mechanisms; 5, is a side view of the lowering lug; Fig. is aplan view of the lug; Fig. 7, is a iew showing` a sticker plunger takingstickers from multiple sticker hoppers; Fig. 8, is a plan view of thesticker plunger used with a single sticker hopper; Fig. 9, is a sectionon 1 1, Fig. 8; Fig. 10, is a section on 2 2, Fig. S; Fig. 11, is asection on 3 3, Fig, 8; Fig. 12, is view showing the pivot bearings forthe levers operating the sticker plunger-s and the ejecting and holdingslides together with the cam rollers (in section) for moving them, partof the sticker plunger pivot being shown in section along the vertical`center line of the lever and cam rollers as along line 4 4, Fig. 13;Fig. 13, is a section on 5 5, Fig. 12, being cut on a horizontal centerline thru the pivot bearing of the sticker plunger` WU lever; Fig. 14,is a section on 6 6, Fig. 15; thru the slide type of ejecting andholding means; Fig. 15, is an end View of the slides and the shaftbearings; Fior. 16, is a plan view of the T-heads of the s ides; Fig.17, is a section on 7-7, Fig. 18, showing the relation of the hoppermember 12, the plunger 58, the latch 7 3, with the lowering lug 77; Fig.18, is a side view showing the relationof the above members; Fig. 19, isan end view of' the latch and sticker guides, Fig. 20, is a View showingthe barrel cams and levers more in detail than as shown in Fig. 3; Fig.21, is a view showing the resilient roll 14 more in detail than as shownin Fig. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts thruout the several views.

In proceeding to describe my invention in detail I Wish to Vpoint outthat many deviations may be made in the details of construction and manymodifications may be made Without departing from the basic idea and,While I shall describe a desirable form of the machine and itsconstruction, I do not limit my invention to it. I shall also illustrateand describe other possible means of accomplishing the main featuressince I am not as much interested in the exact details as in the broadcombination of the main elements.

Primarily the stacker consists of a series of hoppers suitably disposedand adaptable to receive veneers from the top side; sticker placingmeans; means for evening and ejecting a pre-determined number Vofveneers s1- multaneously from the bottom side of each hopper onto thestickers; and means for lowering the stickers and the packets of veneersto their place on the kiln load.

The drawings show a frame or base which may be supported on posts or inany other suitable manner (no means of support being shown). To the twoend channels 1 and 2 are secured the channel girts 3, 4, and 5. Thechannel girt 6 has the guide pieces 7 fastened to it and thus it may bemoved along the length of and at right angles to the end girts 1 and 2.It is moved and held by the action ofthe screws 8 and 9 which areoperated thru the gears 8A and 8B and 9A and 9B. The end of the shaft 10carrying the gears 8B and 9B is adapted to receive and to be turned by aratchet or other suitable means (none being shown). The object of movingthe channel 6 is to vary the distance between. it and the channel 4 soas to accommodate various lengths of veneers that it may be desirable tohandle thru the machine. If only one length of veneers is to be handledthis adjustment would not be necessary. The channels 3 and 5 serve tomake the machine a selfcontained unit. They also serve as supports forthe Work floor 11. It is possible to dispense with them and support theappendages shown attached to them by other members or to the building.

To the channels 4 and 6 are secured a series of Ts 12 which form theends and sides of the hoppers 12A. Like the channels used in the basethe Ts 12 might be replaced by other forms but they serve their purposein a cheap and eiiicient manner. The number of Ts 12 is governed by thenumber of vertical courses desired in the kiln load. rlhese Ts 12 extendabove the channels 4 and 6, and incidentally above the Working Hoor 11,and below them to carry the bearings 13 when the resilient rolls 14shown in Fig. 4, are used as the evening and ejecting means; or thebearings 15, when the evening and ej ecting means shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, 14, and 15 are used. In Fig. 4, the bearings 13 are shown carryingthe shaft 16 on which the resilient rolls 14 are spaced between the legs12B of the T members 12 of the hoppers 12A. The rolls 14 project beyondthe T flanges 12C so that the distance between Ythe rolls 14 on theopposite ends of the hoppers 12A is less than the overall length of theveneers going thru the machine. On one end of the shaft 16 is the faceplate 17 having sixteen rollers as 18 equally spaced thereon. A shaft 19is carried in the bearings 2O and rotated thru the spur gear' 21 whichmeshes with the spur gear 22 on the head sprocket shaft 28 rotatable inthe bearings 24. A cam 25 on the shaft 19 is adapted to advance therollers 18 one spacing during,r part of one of its revolutions and tohold them from further movement during the remainder of the revolution,thus the rolls 14 are moved thru one-sixteenth of a revolution for eachrevolution of the cam shaft 19, and incidentally the head sprocket shaft23. As the rolls 14 on each end of the hoppers 12A move toward eachother simultaneously, veneers, aggregating in thickness the distance theroll 14 moves, are cvened up and ejected from each hopper 12A While thestock above is held from following thru. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 14, and 15.the bearings 15 support the shafts 26 and 27 which are similarlydesignated for like functions at both ends of the hoppers 12A. Dovetails15B are cut in the ends of the bearings 15 in which the ram slides 28and the release slides 29 Work, the one above the other. Rack teeth 28Bcut in the top face of the ram slide 28 mesh with the teeth 26A cut inthe lower side of the shaft 26 and in a like manner the teeth 29B cut inthe slide 29 j; 1

are engaged with the teeth 27A cut in the bottom of the shaft 27. Nomatter What type of evening and ejecting means is used it is desirablethat they extend the full Width of the veneers so that any chance ofsplitting 28A and 29A of the slides 28 and 29 to be j proj recededbehind the face of the hopper-s or the T flanges 12C. A spring plate 30having a projecting lip A is placed in a recess cut in the face of theram slide 28, the upper part of the recess being enlarged so as to formthe space 31 into which the upper end of the spring plate 30` may yieldunder pressure. /Vhen the ram slide 28 is advanced its full distanceinto the hoppers 12A the distance between opposite projecting lips 30Aacross the load is about 1/8 less than the overall length of the veneersbeing put thru the machine. The approximate dimensions When handlingveneers cut 36 long would be: inside of hoppers, 36%@ between faces ofopposite ram slides 28 both above and below the projecting lips 30,361/8 5 between projecting lips 36A, 357/3 3 between the faces ofopposite release slides 29, overall height of ram slide 28. 2;projecting `lip 30A, lg thick; under projecting vlip 30A to top ofrelease slide 29, 1-1-5. The dimensions given above would vary With thelength of veneers being handled and also with the changein number andthickness of the veneers going into a packet 81. rlhe above dimensionsrefer especially to packets 8l measuring 1 in thickness. This is anadvantageous thickness to hfndle for veneers are usualy cut so many tol". is it is, it will be seen that one piece of veneer will comeopposite the projecting lips 30A and Will be held securely by them dueto them crushing into the Wood. Even thongh the pressure is suliicientto cause the -cting lips 30A to yield they Will still grip the veneersecurely under all conditions and under all positions of the projectinglips 301i.. lWhen the ram slides 28 are receded back of the faces 12C ofthe Ts l2 the stock in the hoppers 12A drops onto the release slides 29Where it is'held While the ram slides`28 advance and even the stock upand the projecting lips 30A grip the piece coming opposite them. Theveneers belou7 the one gripped by the projecting lips 30A are free todrop immediately the release slides 29 are receded back of the face ofthe ram slides 29 While the stock above is held against coming thru. Thepiece held by the projecting lips 30A becomes the bottom piece of thenent packet 8l released and being centered releases the Whole packetevenly and it drops as a unit.

he synchronized movement ofthe slides and 29 and the sticker placingmeans is ob* tained by the use of cams on the head sprocket shaft 23 andthe tail sprocket shaft 23A. The tail sprocket shaft 23A is mounted inbearings Milton the opposite end of the machine fromthe head sprocketshaft 23, from which it receives its power. A reversemotion is given theshaft 23A by means of the idler sprocket 32 mounted on the idler shaft'A barrel cam 34 mounted on the h ead sprocket shaft 23 has a groove 35cut in its p`eriphery which imparts the desired movement to the leverarm 36 by means of the roller 37 Working in the groove 35. @ne end ofthe lever arm 36 pivots on the bolt 38 While the opposite end isconnected by the rod 39 to fill Working in the grooves l5 of the camsell,V

the proper movements are. imparted thru the rods 46 connecting` with therocker arms i7 .keyed to the release slide operating shafts 27.

Sticker hoppers 418:3. are placed on each side of the machine and areeach formed by a pair of channels 48 and a pair of angles i9 both havingtheir'flanges pointing in. Sticker placing means primarily consist offour plungers 58 two on each side of the machine with one on each end ofa sticker 48B. A. guide bearing 50 secured to the bottom end of thehopper channels 48 forms an inner support for the plunger 58, While asimilar bear1- ing 51 supports the outer end. Barrel cams as 52Varemounted on the head and tail shafts and 23A resp -ctively and impart theproper movements to the plungers 58 by means of the grooves 53 cut intheir periphery. Movement is transferred to the levers 54 by the rollersworkingin the grooves 53. The lower end of the levers 54 are connectedby the links to the sliding nuts 57 located on the plunger bars 58 bythe collars 59 and 60. The end of the plunger bars are adjustable withrelation to the hopper l8r-l by this arrangement. The stroke of theplunger bars 58 is regu lated by shifting the fulcrum point of thelevers 5e. A. sliding nut 6l is positioned in the slotted end of thelever 54C by means of the adjusting screw 62. The nut 61 carries a pivotbolt 63 about Which it may turn, the bolt 63 being slidable intoposition in a slot 6ft in a pivot plate 65 and clamped by the nut 66.The pivot plates 65 Which also serve the pivot bolts 38 andl 43. aresecured to the tivo channels 67 which also serve to tie the channels 3,4, 5, and 6. together and which carry the two angles 68 which supportthe Work floor ll acent the machine. The plunger bar 58 takes onesticker LlSB out of the sticker hopper 48A by means of a hinged 'ger 69held in position by the spring 70 nl ch also permits it to yield as theplunger 58 is turned Linder the stickers 48B in the hopper 48A at theend of a Working cycle. A sliding spline 7l adjustable along the plunger58 by means of the adjusting screw 7 2 takes out the second sticker 48B.The stickers i813 just before they reach their correct position push bythe latch 7 3 Which is immediately returned to position by the spring74. thus preventing the stickers 48B from returning as the plunger 58slides out from under them.

By means of the adjustment described the stickers '-1813 can be placedwhere e( ted Yfor any length of veneers. Another method illustrated inlig. 7, has a plunger as 58 with a plain scar-fed end as 58B which islong enough to carry two stickers as 48E. ln instance one sticker 48B istaken from each o'l two hoppers 8A placed side by side instead of twostickers 48B out o one hopper. The sliding collar adjustment and the adjustalfle 'tu crinn point the lever are the only ones needed with Athisarrangement. using this arrangement the both stickers are carried out tethe far position where the nner sii ',l-:er held from :.:orgiing backwith the recu ning plunger which places the outer stiche 18h on thereturn ,troke If onlxv a tow len of were to be hardled separatenon-adjustable bars 58 could be uscdone for each leug i.

The lowering means consist of a series ot oppositely placed chainsrunning over the sprockets 76A keyed to the head and tail sprocketshafts 23 and 28A and around the s ids 76 depending from the aboveshafts. These chains 7 5 are movable on the shafts 23 and 23A so thattheir centcrlines are opposite any place it is desired to place thestick rs 48B. The chains 75 have spaced on them the lugs 77 pivotable onthe pins 78 in such a manner that on a downward movement of the chain 75 the upper end of these lugs 77 will fall away from the chain 7 5 butwill yield upwardly toward the chain 75 when they strike any obstructionfrom below on their downward travel. On the side adjacent the hoppers12A the sides of the skids 76 extend beyond the lug links and carry theguide strips 79 which confine the side movements of the stickers 48B toclose limits. End movement of the stickers 48B is gauged by the guidelip 58A of the plunger 58 and by the chain 75 when once positioned onthe lugs 77. The lugs 77 are spaced so that one comes into the properposition at the proper time during each working cycle.

I have shown the kiln loads built on truck jack frames 82 with chains 83to carry the empty frames 82 under the machine and the loads out. Anymethod that would work in under the existing conditions could beadopted. The veneers are taken oi the stock table or they are deliveredwithin reach of the person or persons who keep the hoppers full in anysuitable manner. The hoppers 12A are deep so that a whole load may bestored up during the time the full load is being removed and an emptyjack frame 82 placed. This is a decided advantage over any one hopperarrangement.

With power applied thru any suitable agency to the head sprocket shaft23 as thru the sprocket 80 and stock in the hoppers 12A the machine isready for operation. The movements of the various main elements aretimed to come into operation at the proper time in the working cycle.Vith the ram slides 28 receded and the release slides 29 out the lug 77comes into position, and as it does the plungers 58 move outwardlytaking one sticker 48B out of the hopper 48A with the trigger 69 and asecond with the spline 7l. As the stickers 48B pass by the latches 73the latter are returned to place by the springs 7e and the stickers 18Bprevented from re turning with the plunger 58 as it pulls from underthem and lets them fall 0n the lugs 77. Immediately the stickers 48B arein position on the lugs 77 the release slides 29 recede and let thepacket 8l formed by the ram slides 28, which moved out following the outward movement of the release slides 29, drop out ot the hoppers 12A ontothe stickers 48B. The guide strips 79 keep the stickers 48B with theirload of packets 81 in place as they travel down till the irst coursecomes to rest on the j ack frame 82 and the lug 77 continues around theskid 76. The second course stickers 48B come to rest on the iirst coursepackets 81 and the lugs 77 yield and continue around the skid 76. Thethird and 'e'.ourth con i ses tovfifjcther with any desired number or'courses come to rest in their respective order. When a load is built tothe desired height the machine is stopped and by moving the lever 8ekeyed to the rocker shaft 85 on which are secured the rocker arms 86connected by the links 87 to the skids 76 the bottom of the skids 76 aremoved back clear of the load and may be held in that or the workingposition by a latch 88 on the lever 84 by engaging with the notchedquadrant 89.

lVhile I am aware that many of the elements of my stacker may be foundin other ina chines still in view of the prior art I claim the novelcombination of these elements that go to make up the basic idea of themachine described together with certain details of construction.

I claim:

1. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of stock hoppers suspended therefrom and adaptable toreceive stock at their upper end; means adjacent to their lower endoperable to discharge the stock simultaneously from the several hoppersin predetermined quantities; means whereby stickers are placeable wherewanted to receive the discharged stock; two spaced drive shafts carriedby the base; a series of lowering means depending from the drive shaftsin operable relation whereby the stickers and imposed stock arepositioned in the load being built.

2. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of stock hoppers suspended therefrom; sticker placingmeans; means adaptable to eject a predetermined number of veneerssimultaneously from each hopper onto stickers placed by the stickerplacing means; two series of operable lowering means in operablerelation whereby the stickers and imposed veneers are positioned in theload being built.

3. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of stock hoppers suspended therefrom; sticker placingmeans; means adaptable to eject a packet of veneers of predeterminedthickness simultaneously from each hopper onto stickers placed by thesticker placing means; two series of operable lowering means in operablerelation whereby the stickers and imposed packets are positioned in theload being built.

4:. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom andadaptable to receive stock at their upper end; means adjacent to theirlower end operable to discharge the stock simultaneously from theseveral hoppers in predetermined quantities; means whereby stickers areplaceable where wanted to receive the discharged stock; two spaced driveshafts carried by the base; a series of lowering means depending fromthe drive shafts in operable relation whereby the stickers and imposedstock are positioned in the load being built.

5. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom;adjustable sticker placing means; means adaptable to feed stock out ofthe hoppers in predetermined quantitiesonto stickers placed by thesticker placing means; two series of operable lowering means in operablerelation whereby the stickers and imposed stock are positioned in theload being built.

6. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase which-includes end girts and a number of side girts one of which isin adjustable relation to its opposite; members spaced on the adjustablegirt and its opposite so as to form a series of stock hoppers; stickerplacing means adjustable to hopper changes; means adaptable to feedstock out of the hoppers in predetermined quantities onto the stickersplaced by the sticker placing means; two series of operable loweringmeans in operable relation whereby the stickers and imposed stock arepositioned in the load being built.

7. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom;adjustable sticker placing means; means adaptable to feedstock out ofthe hoppers in predetermined quantities onto stickers placed by thesticker placing means; lowering means whereby the stickers and imposedstock are positioned in the load being built comprising two drivenshafts carried by the base in spaced relation, drive sprockets keyed-tothe shafts, chains driven byv the .sprockets around skids depending fromthe` shafts, `said .skids beingadjustable along their supporting shaftand into opern able relation to those of the opposite series, stickercarrying lugs spaced on the chains and pivotable Athereon in such amanner as to permit their upper end to 4fall away a limitedfdistancefrom the chain when the same is travelling downward yet operable toyield upwardly toward the chain when striking any obstruction frombeneath.

8. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom.; stickerhoppers spaced at the stock hopper ends; sticker placingmeans havingtheir ends adjacent to the sticker hoppers adjustable `thereto and withthe stock hoppers whereby stickers may be placed where desired under thestock hoppers; means adaptable to feed stock out of the hoppers inpredetermined quantities onto the stickers placed by the sticker placingmeans; two series of operable lowering means in operable relationwhereby Iithe stickers and imposed stock are positioned in the loadbeing built.

9. A machine forbuilding loads of `veneers and the like, comprising: abase; a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom; stickerhoppers .placed adjacent to the stock hopper ends; sticker placing meanscomprising variable stroke plungers spaced adjacent to the ends of thesticker hoppers, said plungers having parts adjacent to the hoppersadaptable to take stickers out of the hoppers and place them inpredetermined positionsunder the stock hoppers; means adaptable to feedstock out of the hoppers in predetermined quantities onto the stickers;two series of operable lowering means in operable relation whereby thestickers and imposed stock are positioned in the load being built.

l0. A machine for building loads of veneers and the like, comprising abase a series of adjustable stock hoppers suspended therefrom; stickerhoppers placed adjacent to the stock hopper ends sticker placing meanscomprising variable stroke plungers spaced adj acent to the ends of thesticker hoppers, said plungers having parts adjacent to the hoppers,adaptable t take stickers out of the hoppers and place them inpredetermined positions under the stock hoppers, comprising a forwardshoulder and an adjustable rear shoulder; means adaptable to feed stockout of the hoppers in predetermined quantities onto the stickers placedby the sticker placing means two series of operable lowering means inoperable relation whereby the stickers and imposed stock are positionedin the load being built.

11` A machine for building loads of venears and the like, including abase; a series ITO CIS

of stock hoppers suspended therefrom and adaptable to receive stock attheir upper end; means adjacent their lower end operable to dischar ethe stock simultaneously from the several hoppers in predeterminedquantities; sticker hoppers placed adjacent the stock hopper ends; meanswhereby stickers are placeable where wanted under the hoppers to receivethe discharged stock, and oppositely disposed endless chains havingspaced lugs thereon for lowering the stickers and imposed stock to theirposition in the load being built.

12. A machme for building the courses in a load of veneers to be dried,including a base; a series of stock hoppers suspended therefrom andadaptable to receive stock at their up er end; means adjacent theirlower end opera le to eject a predetermined number of veneerssimultaneously from each hopper; sticker hoppers placed adjacent thestock hopper ends; and means whereby the stickers are placeable wherewanted under the .hoppers to receive the discharged stock.

13. A machine for building the courses in a load of veneers to be dried,including a base a series of stock hoppers suspended therefrom andadaptable to receive stock at their up er end; means ad'acent theirlower end opera le to eject a pac et of veneers simultaneously from eachhopper; sticker hoppers placed adjacent the stock hopper ends, and meanswhereby the stickers are placeable where wanted under the hoppers toreceive the discharged stock.

Signed at Marshfield, in the county of Coos and State of Oregon, this3rd day of April,

EMMET G. STACK.

